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Another ESPN stalwart is bidding adieu.
Chris Mortensen, the NFL insider who spent more than 30 years at ESPN, announced his retirement from the network on Tuesday.
“Excited about another season but it’s time to reveal after my 33rd NFL draft in April, I made a decision to step away from ESPN and focus on my health, family and faith,” Mortensen tweeted.
He indicated that he would still be talking football in his retirement.
“The gratitude and humility is overwhelming. It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time,” Mortensen said. “God Bless you all.”
Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 after writing for The National (the short-lived sports daily newspaper led by Frank Deford), Sport magazine, The Sporting News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Mortensen stepped away from ESPN for a period in 2016 as he battled Stage IV throat cancer, and got great news later in the year that treatment had led to “virtually zero” detection of cancer.
While he was battling cancer, Mortensen broke the news that Peyton Manning was retiring after 18 years in the NFL — and the insider’s competitors on the beat were actually thrilled to have gotten scooped.
In a cutthroat business, Mortensen has always had a reputation for treating people with kindness and empathy.
“What an honor it’s been to spend time with Mort and learn from him. A true titan in this industry and an inspiration in every aspect of his remarkable life and career,” ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted in response to the retirement announcement.
Chris Fallica, the former ESPNer who is now a college football analyst for Fox Sports, tweeted, “Wishing you nothing but the best, Mort. As great of a career you’ve had, you are an even better person.”
“Congratulations to one of the best to ever do it,” tweeted Dianna Russini, the NFL reporter who recently left ESPN for The Athletic.
“A remarkable reporter and an even better friend to so many along the way. An insider with great information who always made covering football fun. Go enjoy all the joys in life Chris, you deserve it all.”
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